Scotland number eight Simon Taylor says he considered retiring from rugby union during his 18-month lay-off. Having recovered from a knee ligament injury, Taylor missed the Lions tour of New Zealand with a hamstring problem.
"When I joined the Lions at the pre-tour camp in Wales, I felt brilliant and felt I could do anything.
"Then I pulled my hamstring. I remember saying to the physio Stuart Barton I couldn't see the point of it any more," he told the Scotsman.
"It was very hard psychologically because I'd put so much into that year getting back, and taking everything at the right pace, that I did wonder what I was doing.
"It seemed an awful lot of effort for it to vanish just like that. You wonder whether it's time to cut your losses.
"I've always been aware there's life outside rugby, and, with a law degree, I had an alternative.
 |  Professional rugby is a pretty good way of life |
"But, over the next couple of days, my thinking changed. I was told it would heal quickly and so I went with the Lions and hoped for the best."
The injury failed to heal though and Taylor was sent home without having played any rugby.
"After a week with my brother in Sydney I'd got over questioning whether I'd stay in rugby," he added.
"Once home, it was amazing how quickly I switched to wanting to get fit again and play."
Taylor is hoping to feature for Edinburgh against the Ospreys in the Celtic League this weekend having played in a bounce match against Munster on Monday.
"Professional rugby is a pretty good way of life and I have another five or six years, which I want to make the most of," he continued.
"When you're fit and can play every week, rugby is brilliant and I've missed that."
MMIX
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